Choosing the Right Marine Gangway Architecture

Introduction

When specifying a marine gangway or accommodation ladder, the discussion often starts with a simple question:

Manual or automated?

In reality, the engineering decision is considerably more nuanced.

Marine access systems can use manual operation, hydraulic actuation, electric drives, electro-hydraulic systems or hybrid architectures. Each approach has different characteristics in terms of force, control, complexity, maintenance, power requirements and emergency recovery.

The right choice is not necessarily the most automated system.

It is the system architecture that best matches the vessel, operating profile, load requirements, available infrastructure and mission.

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Start With the Requirement — Not the Technology

One of the most common mistakes in marine equipment selection is choosing the technology before defining the operating requirement.

A better approach begins with questions such as:

• How often will the gangway operate?
• What loads will it carry?
• How large and heavy is the structure?
• What operating envelope is required?
• What power is available onboard?
• How much operator intervention is appropriate?
• What environmental conditions will it encounter?
• What level of automation is required?
• How will the system be recovered following a failure?
• How will it be maintained throughout its service life?

Only after these requirements are understood can the appropriate marine gangway architecture be selected.

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Manual Marine Gangways

Manual operation can remain an effective option for applications where the equipment is relatively lightweight, deployment is infrequent and simplicity is a priority.

Manual marine access systems may be appropriate where:

• deployment frequency is low
• the gangway is relatively lightweight
• available power is limited
• operating requirements are straightforward
• minimal system complexity is preferred
• manual handling is practical and acceptable

Advantages of manual systems

A manual gangway can offer:

• simple mechanical construction
• reduced control-system complexity
• limited power requirements
• straightforward operation
• potentially simpler maintenance

However, simplicity does not necessarily mean that manual operation is appropriate for every application.

Manual handling considerations

Manual systems can require greater physical involvement from the crew.

This can introduce considerations around:

• physical effort
• crew availability
• deployment time
• handling procedures
• ergonomics
• manual recovery
• personnel exposure during deployment

The suitability of manual operation therefore depends on the equipment’s size, weight, frequency of use and operating environment.

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Hydraulic Marine Gangways

Hydraulic actuation is widely suited to applications where significant forces, controlled movement or heavy structures are involved.

Hydraulic systems can deliver substantial force from relatively compact actuators, making them particularly useful for large marine gangways and accommodation ladders.

Advantages of hydraulic actuation

Depending on the application, hydraulic systems can provide:

• high force density
• controlled movement
• compact actuators
• substantial load-handling capability
• controllable deployment speeds
• established marine engineering practices

Hydraulic cylinders can also provide considerable flexibility when designing the movement and geometry of large access systems.

Hydraulic system considerations

A hydraulic marine gangway also introduces additional engineering requirements.

These can include:

• hydraulic power-unit sizing
• pressure and flow requirements
• cylinder sizing
• valve selection
• hose and pipe routing
• filtration
• leakage management
• load holding
• emergency operation
• inspection and maintenance

The hydraulic system should therefore be engineered alongside the mechanical structure rather than added after the gangway geometry has been established.

EHL’s marine engineering capability includes hydraulic power units, manifolds, cylinders and associated hydraulic equipment in addition to marine access-system engineering. EHL Group — Maritime Team

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Electric Marine Gangways

Electric actuation can provide an alternative where electrical infrastructure is readily available and precise control is desirable.

Electric drives can integrate effectively with modern PLC-based control systems, position feedback and automated operating sequences.

Potential advantages of electric actuation

Electric systems may offer:

• precise movement control
• straightforward integration with electrical controls
• reduced dependence on hydraulic infrastructure
• potentially simplified fluid management
• suitable automation capability
• efficient operation for appropriate applications

However, electric actuation is not simply a matter of installing a motor.

Marine applications require consideration of:

• motor sizing
• torque requirements
• braking
• duty cycle
• thermal performance
• environmental protection
• corrosion exposure
• electrical protection
• emergency operation
• power availability

The operating load and mechanical arrangement will ultimately determine whether electric actuation is appropriate.

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Electro-Hydraulic Marine Access Systems

There is also a useful middle ground between conventional hydraulic and fully electric actuation.

Electro-hydraulic systems combine electrical control with hydraulic power and actuation.

This architecture can be particularly useful where the equipment requires substantial hydraulic force but also benefits from modern electrical control, monitoring and automation.

The electrical system can control hydraulic valves and monitor system conditions while hydraulic actuators provide the physical force required to move the access equipment.

This can provide a practical combination of:

High actuation force

Controlled operation

Electronic monitoring

Automation capability

The appropriate configuration depends on the vessel and the required operating philosophy.

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Hybrid Marine Gangway Systems

A hybrid marine access system combines different technologies or operating methods to achieve a particular engineering objective.

For example, a system may combine powered operation with manual recovery or integrate hydraulic actuation with sophisticated electrical control.

Hybrid architecture can be particularly useful where the designer needs to balance:

• automation
• reliability
• redundancy
• energy consumption
• manual recovery
• installation constraints
• maintenance requirements
• operational flexibility

EHL has developed and promoted automated and hybrid accommodation ladder systems for modern vessel applications, including systems presented to the maritime industry at Asia Pacific Maritime 2026. EHL Group — Advanced Marine Access Solutions at APM 2026

The value of a hybrid system is not simply that it combines multiple technologies.

It is that each technology is used where it provides the greatest practical benefit.

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How Do You Choose the Right Marine Gangway Architecture?

There is no universally superior actuation technology.

The correct choice depends on the operating requirement.

1. Duty Cycle

How frequently will the marine gangway operate?

A system used several times a day may have very different requirements from one deployed occasionally.

Operating frequency can influence actuator selection, component duty ratings, maintenance requirements and lifecycle cost.

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2. Load

What loads will the structure and actuation system encounter?

Gangway weight, personnel loading, operating forces and environmental loads can all influence the required mechanical and actuation capacity.

Heavy access structures may benefit from hydraulic actuation, while lighter applications may be suitable for alternative arrangements.

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3. Operating Envelope

How far does the gangway need to move?

The required range of motion can influence:

• actuator geometry
• cylinder stroke
• motor selection
• pivot arrangements
• extension mechanisms
• stowage configuration

The operating envelope should be established before finalising the actuation architecture.

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4. Available Power

What infrastructure does the vessel already have?

The available hydraulic and electrical infrastructure can significantly influence the most practical solution.

Relevant considerations may include:

• hydraulic pressure
• hydraulic flow
• electrical voltage
• available power
• existing HPUs
• control-system architecture
• available installation space

Using existing vessel infrastructure can sometimes simplify integration, although the system still needs to be engineered for its specific duty.

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5. Crew and Operator Requirements

How much manual intervention is appropriate?

A manually operated gangway may be suitable for some vessels.

Other applications may benefit from powered or automated deployment, particularly where equipment is large, heavy or frequently operated.

Single-operator operation can also influence the control architecture and safety requirements.

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6. Marine Environment

Where will the system operate?

Marine access equipment may be exposed to:

• saltwater
• corrosion
• rain
• wind
• temperature variation
• tidal movement
• vessel motion
• contamination

These conditions influence material selection, electrical protection, hydraulic components, sealing and maintenance requirements.

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7. Emergency Recovery

What happens if primary power is unavailable?

This question should be answered during design.

A hydraulic, electric or hybrid system may require different recovery strategies.

Possible considerations include:

• manual override
• emergency power
• alternative hydraulic operation
• mechanical recovery
• controlled isolation
• emergency procedures

Recovery is not an accessory to the design.

It is part of the architecture.

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Comparing Marine Gangway Technologies

Architecture	Key strengths	Key considerations
Manual	Simple, low infrastructure requirements, straightforward mechanical arrangement	Manual effort, crew involvement, operating speed
Hydraulic	High force, controlled movement, suitable for heavy structures	Hydraulic infrastructure, hoses, valves, filtration and maintenance
Electric	Precise control, strong automation integration, no hydraulic fluid	Motor sizing, braking, electrical protection and power requirements
Electro-hydraulic	High hydraulic force combined with electronic control	More complex system architecture
Hybrid	Flexibility, automation and alternative operating/recovery options	Greater design complexity and integration requirements

The table is useful as a starting point, but it should not be used as a substitute for application-specific engineering.

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The Best System Is the One That Fits the Mission

A commercial vessel making regular port calls may prioritise fast, repeatable deployment and simple operation.

A naval vessel may place greater emphasis on compact integration, operational flexibility, redundancy and controlled emergency recovery.

An offshore vessel may prioritise robust operation in demanding environmental conditions.

A superyacht may place greater emphasis on compact stowage, aesthetics, quiet operation and seamless integration.

A shore-based marine gangway may have entirely different structural, power and operating requirements.

This is why the best marine gangway is not necessarily the most powerful, the most automated or the most technologically complex.

It is the architecture that best fits the mission.

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Technology Should Follow the Engineering Requirement

The most effective marine access systems start with the operational requirement and work towards the appropriate technical architecture.

That process can be represented simply:

Vessel requirements

↓

Operating profile

↓

Load and movement requirements

↓

Available infrastructure

↓

Safety and recovery requirements

↓

Actuation architecture

↓

Controls and automation

↓

Lifecycle maintenance

The result is a system designed around the vessel rather than a technology selected in isolation.

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Lifecycle Considerations

The initial purchase decision is only one part of the engineering equation.

The chosen architecture will influence future:

• maintenance
• inspection
• spare parts
• fault diagnosis
• component replacement
• energy requirements
• operator training
• upgrades
• lifecycle cost

A simple system can be advantageous if simplicity is genuinely what the application requires.

A more sophisticated automated system may provide greater operational value where the vessel demands it.

The important consideration is whether the additional complexity provides a measurable operational benefit.

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The EHL Approach to Marine Access Engineering

At EHL Group, manual, hydraulic, electric and hybrid systems are treated as engineering options rather than competing product categories.

The starting point is the vessel and its requirements.

From there, the appropriate combination of mechanical design, actuation, controls, automation and recovery can be developed around the application.

This approach allows marine access systems to be engineered for:

Performance

Safety

Reliability

Maintainability

Operational efficiency

Lifecycle value

The technology follows the requirement.

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Conclusion: There Is No Universal “Best” Marine Gangway

Manual, hydraulic, electric, electro-hydraulic and hybrid systems should not be viewed simply as competing technologies.

They are engineering tools.

Each has advantages, limitations and applications where it may be the most appropriate choice.

The better question is therefore not:

“Which technology is best?”

It is:

“Which marine gangway architecture best meets the vessel’s operational requirements?”

When duty cycle, load, operating envelope, available power, crew requirements, environmental conditions, automation and emergency recovery are considered together, the engineering decision becomes much clearer.

The right marine access system is not the one with the most technology.

It is the one that delivers the right performance for the mission.

Ask the Engineer

Considering a manual, hydraulic, electric or hybrid marine gangway for a new vessel or retrofit?

EHL Group works with vessel owners, shipbuilders, naval architects and operators to develop marine access systems around the vessel, its operating environment and its mission.

Engineering the Connection.

Access by Design. Performance by Engineering.

Contact: solutions@ehlsolutions.com

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FAQ

Should I choose a manual or automated marine gangway?

The choice depends on the vessel’s operating frequency, gangway size, load, available power, crew requirements, environmental conditions and desired level of automation. There is no single configuration that is optimal for every vessel.

What are the advantages of a hydraulic marine gangway?

Hydraulic actuation can provide high force density and controlled movement, making it suitable for large or heavy marine access systems. Hydraulic architecture can also be integrated with other vessel hydraulic systems where appropriate.

What are the advantages of an electrically actuated gangway?

Electric actuation can provide precise control and can be appropriate where electrical infrastructure is available and hydraulic systems are not preferred. Motor sizing, braking, environmental protection and emergency operation still need to be addressed.

What is a hybrid marine gangway?

A hybrid marine gangway combines different actuation, power or control technologies to achieve specific operational requirements. The architecture can be tailored to balance automation, redundancy, energy requirements, manual recovery and vessel constraints.

Are hydraulic gangways better than electric gangways?

Neither technology is universally better. The appropriate solution depends on the vessel’s load requirements, operating environment, available infrastructure, control requirements, maintenance philosophy and lifecycle objectives.

What should be considered when selecting gangway actuation?

Key considerations include load, geometry, duty cycle, operating speed, available power, space, environmental exposure, control requirements, emergency operation, maintenance and lifecycle support.

Can EHL design different types of marine gangway actuation systems?

EHL can engineer marine access systems using different mechanical, hydraulic, electrical and automated configurations according to the specific vessel and operational requirements.